Pickling tank



/ 2Q/@mf ATTORNEY c. sHRlvER PICKLING TANK Filed Nov. 5, 1936 Jime 14, 1938.

Patented June 14, 1938 UNITED STATES APATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates broadly to pickling tanks wherein metal sheets, strips and shapes are treated in a liquid bath, and more particularlyto means for maintaining the walls of the tank in a substantially true plane.

As is well known in the art, the tank containing the pickling fluid is constructed of wood timbers since wood is not subject to as rapid deterioration as metals and other materials when subjected to continued contact with the acids of the pickling bath. However, the wood walls of the tank absorb moisture from the fluid bath and after a period of use and as a result of such saturation the walls become warped, resulting in leakage of the tank difficult of repair. Moreover, the luid of the pickling bath contained within the tank is heated to and maintained at a temperature above the atmospheric temperature exterior of the tank, and this variation in interior and exterior temperatures is an added inducement for the timbers to become warped, bowed and misaligned.

It is, therefore, one of the objects of the invention to provide bracing means for strengthening the walls of lsuch tanks so that the same are not readily subjected to warpage.

Another and important object of the invention is to afford means for attaching the strengthening means to the walls oi the tank wherein all metal parts employed are so located that they are not contacted by the fluid of the pickling bath.

In describing the invention in detail, reference is herein had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a pickling tank with the invention associated therewith; and- Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse section taken substantially on line 2--2, Fig. l, parts being broken away to better illustrate certain construction and arrangement of parts.

Referring to said drawing, the reference numerals 2 and 3 designate, respectively, the side and end walls of a pickling tank constructed of superposed timbers held together by a plurality of vertical bolt-like tie rods 5. The bottom 6 of the tank is also composed of timbers held together by tie rods 1, and said bottom rests upon and is supported by a plurality of equally spaced sills or bolsters 8 extending transversely of the tank and attached to the latter by the tie rods 5. Vertical timbers 9 are attached to the exterior of the tank at the four right angle corners t serve as corner cleats. Appropriate splines Ill, as ordinarily, are provided between adjacent timbers to prevent leakage of the iluid therebetween and to assist in maintaining alignment of the superposed timbers.

As shown in the drawing, the exterior surface of the timbers of each of the side walls 2 intermediate their ends is provided with a vertically extending gain so as to snugly receive therein the inner edge of a vertical cleat I2, preferably a timloer, the lower ends of the oppositely disposed cleats I2 projecting below the plane of the bottom timbers of the tank and receiving therebe- 10 tween an auxiliary supporting bolster or spreader 25. The lower projecting portions of the cleats I2 are preferably attached to the spreader bolster 25 by a tie rod I3, although this rod I3 may in some cases be omitted, particularly where the tanks are not of great heighth. Moreover, a tie rod l', slightly longer than the tie rods 1, rigidly fastens the cleats I2 to the tank, said tie rod l penetrating the timbers of the bottom 6.

Certain of the side wall timbers are recessed to afford pockets Ill in each of which is received a nut or threaded plate I 5 held in place by a Wood block I 6. Piercing the brace I2 and extending inwardly through the side wall timber is a tie bolt 20 whose inner end is threadedly engaged by the embedded nut I5. The heads of the tie bolts are preferably received within recesses 22 provided in the cleats I2.

An integral tongue 23, as shown in Fig. 2, is preferably formed on the opposite ends of the auxiliary bolster 25 and is received in a registering groove formed in the lower end of each cleat I2, this arrangement aiding to maintain the tank and associated elements rigid and in alignment.

As will be readily apparent, the cleats I2 afford rigidity to the walls of the tank substantially preventing warpage, bowing or buckling. In tanks having comparatively high walls, inclinai tion of the side walls toward and away from each other from a vertical plane after the tank has experienced a period of use is prevented largely because of the provision of the tie rod I3, the bolster spreader 25, and the lower projecting ends of the cleats I2. Obviously, any movement toward convergent or divergent inclination or bowing of the side walls 2 when the cleats I2 are attached thereto must be about a iulcrum point substantially at the bottom of the tank. Thus, inward inclination of the side walls is prevented by the resistive force oiered by the tie rod I3, while outward inclination is prevented by the bolster spreader 25, the latter element prohibiting the lower projecting ends of the cleats I2 from movingtoward each other.

Furthermore, the provision of the cleats I2 in the gains of the timbers effectually lock the timbers of the tank, thereby preventing longitudinal shifting of the timbers, an important feature where two or more lengths of timbers are spliced to form one longitudinal timber element of a tank wall. Additionally, the bolts and nut plates are so located that the acid of the pickling bath does not have Contact therewith, thus affording long life thereto.

While but one bracing cleat has herein been illustrated throughout the entire length of the tank, it will be understood that the number desired to be used will be dependent upon the length of said tank in actual practice. Moreover, it will be understood that any number of the superposed wall timbers may be equipped with the tie bolts and nut plates.

What is claimed is- A pickling tank consisting of side and end walls composed of superposed timbers having a bottom consisting of parallel timbers; Vertical tie rods penetrating the timbers of the side walls; horizontal tie rods penetrating the timbers of the bottom; Vertical bracing cleats provided on the opposite side walls of said tank and having their lower ends projecting below the bottom plane of the tank bottom; a transverse bolster spreader interposed between the lower projecting ends of the oppositely disposed cleats beneath the tank bottom, and oppositely disposed cleats being attached to the tank at a spaced distance from their lower extremities by a tie rod extending transversely through the timbers of the tank bottom.

CHARLES SHRIVER. 

